Martinsville City Council is seeking public input regarding the possible demolition of Paradise Inn on Fayette Street and the issue will be discussed at three upcoming Council meetings:
*West End Neighborhood Meeting- September 26th at 7 p.m. at Albert Harris Elementary
*City Council Meeting- September 27 at 7 p.m. at the City of Martinsville Municipal Building
*City Council Meeting- October 11 at 7 p.m. at the City of Martinsville Municipal Building
Paradise Inn was a staple of social life for African Americans in Martinsville during the Civil Rights era. The inn was a restaurant and club that hosted a number of national musical acts during its peak of business. Paradise Inn closed in the mid-90’s and the building was condemned by the City of Martinsville in 2008. Lack of maintenance and repairs by the property owner since that time has resulted in a continual deterioration of the building. An architectural and engineering assessment was conducted in 2018 regarding the possibility of restoring the building to a usable condition, and costs are simply prohibitive.
Residents will have an opportunity to provide input on this issue at the council meetings.
